I don't have a problem with a band having no input. There's definitely room for well-researched third-party views. However, with a relatively obscure band like Wire, where so much of the information out there is massively inaccurate, it seems a little strange to avoid band input entirely. Also, when a publisher won't provide the band with promo copies, that is a really bad sign, especially with a band like Wire that has a web presence and talks directly to the people who like the band.

I'd also hope the description is out of date on the various online stores. You don't get much confidence in an 'up to the minute' volume with "following them up to the present, poised as they are to come back with a brand new album and filled with a renewed sense of vigour," given that this is referring to Object 47.

I agree with Craig , it really is a PR disaster for the publishers me thinks.You would think it would benefit them to have some sort of dialogue with the bandto at least get a Quote on the contents of the book to insert in it.Strange one indeed by the publishers.

Lester did interview band members, but remember, this was the book that would get written "with or without their involvement", so the publisher's lack of co-operation should come as no surprise. Though you would think they could push the boat out a bit and send them each a copy...

Mm. I don't think it's a "PR disaster", just a bit rude to not send out promos. Hell, I get promos half the time when I write a feature for a magazine. I'd hope that if I had an entire book about me, I'd get a copy.

has anyone read paul lester's book on the GO4? i've picked it up in shops but didn't feel inclined to buy it immediately. strange wire seem so uninvolved with their version from the same guy...

just to echo comments on the wilson neate book , i was really impressed. there was a really banal series of cd-sized books a few years back and i wondered if this would be in a simialr vein. but i really enjoyed it , he'd really dug deep and it was really full of interesting stuff.

"strange wire seem so uninvolved with their version from the same guy..."

In fairness, I don't think they've been given much choice... it's not something Wire initiated, it would have happened without their involvement, so Lester and his publishers obviously had an idea from the start about the book's form, which they're sticking to... let's just hope Lester's done his homework and also managed to interview others to fill out the broader picture. It'd be interesting to see what his approach was for the Gang Of Four book. I hope I'm proved wrong, but, interviews aside, I'm not expecting anything particularly satisfying or incisive...

Just ordered my copy via Book Depository (via Amazon sellers) so it must be published now. Await with interest particularly in light of comments about lack of interviews and promo copies. Both of these were top of my list when researching Everybody Loves a History. The book would not have got off the ground without the approval and input of all concerned.Watch this space.

I ask because, first, of this bit that Craig dug up about it in another thread:

"It will take you behind the scenes and feature interviews with the original members, following them up to the present, poised as they are to come back with a brand new album and filled with a renewed sense of vigour as one of the most important bands in the last thirty years."

And two, because I only interpreted Colin's comment above to mean that they hadn't been able to preview the book, which doesn't necessarily mean they didn't participate... but perhaps just that they weren't given a chance to look it over and see if anything they said might have been taken out of context, or rearranged to suit the author's bias or thoughts, etc. etc.